Sliding track structure

ABSTRACT

A sliding track structure is installed on one side of a server to guide loading of the server into a rack. The sliding track structure includes a body which has a latch hook, extended from a bottom side into the interior of the server to be latched thereon. The body, further, has an upright elastic rib extended from the top surface and a transverse elastic rib extended from a lateral side, to press respectively an inner top wall and an inner side wall of the rack to cushion the external impact and provide a buffer and shock absorbing effect horizontal and vertical direction.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a sliding track structure adopted foruse on servers and particularly to a sliding track structure thatprovides a buffer and shock absorbing function in horizontal andvertical direction.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With the constant advance of technology, computer application is nolonger limited to a few national research institutions and known largeenterprises. These days the price of the computer is very low and isaffordable to almost every one.

Based on the application, the computer generally can be categorized inpersonal computer, server and workstation, and super computer. Thepersonal computer usually has one to two processors. It generally isused for processing administrative tasks in the enterprises ormultimedia entertainment related applications. To process more complextasks such as 3D computer graphic applications, the server is moredesirable. To meet the present network requirements, users generallyselect a server computer system which consists of two to fourprocessors, some even have eight or sixteen processors. For somespecialized applications that require very high performance, such ashydrogen bomb simulation, weather forecast and simulation, geneengineering and the like, thousands or even hundreds or thousands ofprocessors (or sub-computer systems) may be coupled to form a supercomputer.

A brief discussion of server evolution is provided as follows. Beforethe server was introduced, the conventional approach is to couple aplurality of computers to function as a high performance workstation.The price is lower and competitive. But based on the existing computerarchitecture, the coupled computers would become too bulky, and manyproblems become too complicated, such as cooling and power supply. Hencethe industry has established computer host dimension specifications suchas 1U (1.75 inches) or 2U (3.5 inches) for the height. And a singleblade design was introduced. The computer thus formed may be stacked andconnected to become a rack mount computer. The dimension of the mainboard of the computer can be shrunk drastically. The CPU (centralprocessing unit), chip sets, memory and hard disk may be configured andmounted thereon to become a complete set. Each server main boardeventually becomes a replaceable computer that can functionindependently. Such type of computer is called the server, or bladeserver.

Compared with the conventional computer, the server has the biggestadvantage, i.e. is space saving. In areas where the space cost is highand vendors have to procure and install a great number of servers, suchas data centers that provide host rental services, such a design cansave a great deal of cost.

The server generally has a sliding track to facilitate loading andunloading. The present server has powerful functions, and because of thegreat progress of technology the electronic devices installed on theserver also are more precise. Once the server is loaded into a rack, itis usually not removed. However, relocation of the rack still couldhappen. Or an earthquake could occur and the rack could be shaken whensubject to an external force. As a result, the server installed on therack could be damaged. This is especially true for the preciseelectronic devices that are sensitive to shaking, such as a hard disk.The electronic devices could be dislocated when subject to impact andshaking. And the server could malfunction, or even be damaged.

To remedy the aforesaid problems, many approaches have been adopted. Forinstance, some install a damper on the rack, some design a complexlinkage bar structure to reduce the external impact. Although they canprovide some degree of effect, the structures are complicated, andfabrication costs are high. Installation is not easy, and repairs andmaintenance are difficult. There is still room for improvement.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore the present invention aims to provide a sliding trackstructure that can provide a damper and shock absorbing function inhorizontal and vertical direction. Installation is simple. The structureadopts a single element design, and can be produced at a lower cost.

The sliding track structure according to the invention is adopted foruse on servers. It is located on a lateral side of a server to guideloading of the server into a rack. The invention has a latch hookextended from a body and is extended into the interior of the server tobe latched. The body further has an upright elastic rib extended fromthe top surface for a selected distance and transverse elastic ribsextended from lateral sides for another selected distance. When theserver is loaded into the rack, the upright elastic rib and thetransverse elastic ribs press respectively an inner top wall and innerside walls of the rack to simultaneously provide a buffer and shockabsorbing capability in horizontal and vertical direction, therebycushioning the external impact.

The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages ofthe invention will be more readily apparent from the following detaileddescription, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the sliding track structure of theinvention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the sliding track structure of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the sliding track structure of theinvention in an assembly condition.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the sliding track structure of theinvention for damping the shock in the vertical direction.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the sliding track structure of theinvention for damping the shock in the horizontal direction.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The sliding track structure of the invention is installed on one side ofa server, to guide loading of the server into a rack and also provide abuffer and shock absorbing capability in the horizontal and verticaldirections at the same time. The structure of the invention is simpleand easy to install and remove, and can be produced at a low cost.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the sliding track structure of theinvention includes latch hooks 31, an upright elastic rib 32 andtransverse elastic ribs 33. The latch hooks 31 are formed on the bottomside of a body 30 and pass through openings 11 formed on one side of aserver 10 to latch on an inner side of the server 10. Therefore the body30 is latched securely on one side of the server 10.

The body 30 has slots 34 to receive elastic side ribs 40. The elasticside ribs 40 are made of a deformable metal and are extended slightlyfrom the slots 34 for a selected distance, and may be embedded in theslots 34 when subject to force. The elastic side ribs 40 can reduce thefriction when the server 10 is loaded into the rack 20, so that loadingand unloading of server 10 into or from the rack 20 is smoother.

The upright elastic rib 32 is formed on one end of the body 30 in amovable manner, and is extended from the top surface of the body 30 fora selected distance in normal condition. It can be pressed under forceto be embedded in the body 30. The transverse elastic ribs 33 are formedin a middle portion of the body 30 and extended from two opposite sidesof the body 30 for another selected distance, to receive a depressionforce and be housed in the body 30.

Refer to FIGS. 4 and 5 for the invention in use conditions. When theserver 10 is loaded into the rack 20, the upright elastic rib 32 pressesan inner top wall of a guiding track 21 of the rack 20 and is slightlyembedded in the body 30. Similarly, the transverse elastic ribs 33 pressan inner sidewall 23 of the guiding track 21 and are moved close to thebody 30. Hence, with the upright elastic rib 32 and the transverseelastic ribs 33 pressing the rack 20, a buffer and shock absorbingcapability in vertical and horizontal direction are provided.

After the invention is implemented, a buffer and shock absorbingcapability in the vertical and horizontal direction are generated at thesame time. The structure is simple, and installation and removal areeasy. The production cost is low. Compared with the conventionaltechniques or the products now on the market that use springs, dampers,or linkage bars to reduce shocks, and that are costly to produce anddifficult to install and remove and maintain, the invention provides agreat improvement.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been set forth forthe purpose of disclosure, modifications of the disclosed embodiment ofthe invention as well as other embodiments thereof may occur to thoseskilled in the art. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended tocover all embodiments, which do not depart from the spirit and scope ofthe invention.

1. A sliding track structure to be installed on one side of a server toguide loading of the server into a rack, comprising a latch hook whichmates the server and is extended into an inner side of the server to belatched thereon, a upright elastic rib extended from a top surface for aselected distance, and a transverse elastic rib extended from a lateralside for another selected distance; characterized in: the uprightelastic rib and the transverse elastic rib press respectively an innertop wall and an inner side wall of the rack when the server is loadedinto the rack to provide a buffer and shock absorbing capability.
 2. Thesliding track structure of claim 1 further including an elastic side ribto reduce friction generated by the loading of the server into the-rackand unloading of the server from the rack.
 3. The sliding trackstructure of claim 2 further having a slot to hold the elastic side rib.4. The sliding track structure of claim 3, wherein the elastic side ribis extended slightly from the slot for a selected distance and isembedded in the slot when subject to a force.
 5. The sliding trackstructure of claim 2, wherein the elastic side rib is made of adeformable metal.
 6. The sliding track structure of claim 1, wherein thesliding track structure is made from plastics.
 7. The sliding trackstructure of claim 1, wherein the sliding track structure is made ofmetal.